Lessonia nigrescens, the grey weed or giant grey weed, is a South American kelp species in the genus Lessonia.
| Lessonia nigrescens | |
|---|---|
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| Lessonia nigrescens at El Quisco beach, Chile | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Diaphoretickes |
| Clade: | SAR |
| Clade: | Stramenopiles |
| Phylum: | Gyrista |
| Subphylum: | Ochrophytina |
| Class: | Phaeophyceae |
| Order: | Laminariales |
| Family: | Lessoniaceae |
| Genus: | Lessonia |
| Species: | L. nigrescens
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| Binomial name | |
| Lessonia nigrescens Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1826
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There is at least two populations of the seaweed, marked by the difference in phenolic content. There is a subtidal population with higher phenol content and an intertidal population with a lighter phenol content. The difference in the phenolic content can be explained by the herbivory selection pressure due to the sea snail Tegula tridentata.[1]
UV treatment induces the production of phlorotannins that accumulate in physodes.[2]
This weed contains the phytosterol saringosterol that shows an inhibitory effect on Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth.[3]
References
edit- ^ Micropopulation differentiation in phenol content and susceptibility to herbivory in the Chilean kelp Lessonia nigrescenss (Phaeophyta, Laminariales). Enrique A. Martínez, Hydrobiologia, July 1996, Volume 326-327, Issue 1, pages 205-211, doi:10.1007/BF00047808
- ^ Induction of Phlorotannins During UV Exposure Mitigates Inhibition of Photosynthesis and DNA Damage in the Kelp Lessonia nigrescens. Ivan Gómez and Pirjo Huovinen, Photochemistry and Photobiology, September/October 2010, Volume 86, Issue 5, pages 1056–1063, doi:10.1111/j.1751-1097.2010.00786.x
- ^ Inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth by saringosterol from Lessonia nigrescens. Wächter Gerald A, Franzblau Scott G, Montenegro Gloria, Hoffmann Joseph J, Maiese William M and Timmermann Barbara N, Journal of Natural Products, 2001, volume 64, number 11, pages 1463-1464, INIST 14134197
External links
edit
Data related to Lessonia nigrescens at Wikispecies
Media related to Lessonia nigrescens at Wikimedia Commons- "Lessonia nigrescens". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species.
- algaebase.org
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